19/11/2017 · An acronym is a combination of initial or non-initial letters or syllables of the words in a phrase to form a shorter word. On the other hand, an initialism uses only the first letters of the words in a phrase to create a shorter term. Both are types of abbreviations, but the main difference lies in how they are pronounced.

The distinction between acronyms and initialisms - acronyms are pronounced as a single word, initialisms are pronounced as a series of individual letters - is, like many English language rules, very simple and slightly subjective. For some more entertaining abbreviations, check out our list of funny acronyms.

01/10/2015 · An abbreviation refers to any shortened form of a word. Both types of abbreviations are made up of initial letters of a group of words. However, the main difference between acronym and initialism is that an acronym can be pronounced as if it is a word whereas initialism can’t be read or pronounced as a word itself. What is an Acronym

24/05/2012 · Initialisms are very similar to acronyms in that they are made up of letters of some name or phrase, usually the first letter of each word as is common with acronyms. The difference between an acronym and initialism is that the abbreviation formed with initialisms is not pronounced as a word, rather you say the individual letters, such as FBI (Federal Bureau of …

24/01/2022 · Acronym noun. An abbreviation formed by the initial letters of other words, sometimes exclusively such abbreviations when pronounced as a word (as "laser") rather than as individual letters (initialisms such as "TNT"). Initialism noun. (linguistics) A term formed from the initial letters of several words or parts of words, but which is itself ...

01/07/2021 · Merriam-Webster is defines an initialism as “an abbreviation formed from initial letters,” but acknowledges that “acronym is commonly used to refer to both types of abbreviations.” However ...

The key difference between an acronym and an initialism is that an acronym forms a new word, while an initalism does not. For example, you say "nay-to" for NATO; this means you are saying a word, as opposed to saying each letter (ehn-ay-tee-oh). So "NATO" is an acronym.

Acronyms don't have to be JUST initials; initialisms may not be other letters other than the first. Acronym is the broader term. So the acronym "STFU" is also an initialism. But the acronym RADAR isn't an initialism. I have never heard (or even thought about it) that an acronym has to be "pronounceable" as a word.